Utah Jazz sign point guard Ronnie Price to a new deal
Ronnie Price hasn't wasted time this summer worrying about whether he'd return to play a third NBA season in his adopted home state. He didn't even lose sleep when the Jazz drafted a point guard in June.
Turns out, he was better off spending time with family and golfing than fretting anyway.
On Tuesday, the Jazz announced that they've re-signed the athletic Utah Valley University product and unrestricted free agent. The length and monetary value of the contract were not disclosed as per Jazz policy.
It was somewhat of a told-you-so moment for Jazz coach Jerry Sloan, who said Price would be one of the team's three point guards for 2009-10 a day after Utah drafted Virginia Commonwealth playmaker Eric Maynor in the first round last month.
Price wasn't available for comment Tuesday but recently said he hoped to stay with Utah.
"Of course, I want to be here," Price said at a recent autograph signing session. "I'm not a guy who likes to jump around the NBA much."
As Sloan alluded to, bringing Price back was an offseason priority for the Jazz. The four-year NBA veteran — who played two years in Sacramento after going undrafted out of UVU — admitted to being unsatisfied with his play last year, when he averaged 4.0 points and 2.1 assists while sharing backup duties with Brevin Knight. But the Jazz like how he filled in for Deron Williams early on, and Sloan lauded his energetic play in Game 5 against the Lakers and even second-guessed not using Price more during the year.
"Keeping Ronnie on our roster was important to us," Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor said in a statement released by the team.
Price, the only Jazz player to ever wear No. 17, has averaged 3.8 points, 1.6 assists and 11.7 minutes in 113 games with Utah since 2007.
"Ronnie Price is the consummate professional," Jazz president Randy Rigby said in the release. "He is always prepared when coach Sloan calls on him and we are looking forward to his energy and toughness next season."
JAZZ, LEE TALK: The agent for New York Knicks forward David Lee, Chicago-based Mark Bartelstein, acknowledged Tuesday that he's spoken with the Jazz regarding the restricted free agent.
But he said "nothing is imminent" when it comes to Utah and Lee.
"Kevin (O'Connor) and I talk about a lot of things all the time, and in the course of those conversations, we had talked about David," Bartelstein said. "I know they like David as a player, but everyone does."
Recent comments
How about we forget about Millsap, he doesn't want to be here or he...
Shaybo | July 16, 2009 at 4:44 p.m.
I wonder if WORD can be sent by one J-D HS grad to another J-D HS...
OldSchool in Augusta | July 16, 2009 at 1:11 p.m.
What? Is it too late for Malone to come out of retirement?
THEeyepatch | July 16, 2009 at 1:10 p.m.
- Treasury gets $146.5M for warrants 9:11 a.m.
- Guinea's pres. flown to Morocco 9:06 a.m.
- Panda at Nat'l Zoo headed to China 9:04 a.m.
- Police:: Wis. deaths may be linked 9:01 a.m.
- Recipe/week: Yam Rolls 8:59 a.m.
- Death penalty possible in Roy slayings 8:54 a.m.
- U.N. to probe climate e-mail leak 8:51 a.m.
- GM Chairman names new head 8:47 a.m.
- Factory orders rise unexpectedly 8:41 a.m.
- Crash snarls I-15 near 10300 South 8:37 a.m.
- Mr. Football 2009: Tuni Kanuch
- Hate not limited to 1 in-state rivalry
- Harpring's NBA career is over
- Phoenix signs off on LDS temple
- MVPs wrap up stellar prep careers
- Toddler dies trapped under mattress
- Miller predicted Tiger's rough road
- Aggies shoot past Cougars
- Crews to seal Nutty Putty Cave
- Doctor deems Mitchell competent
- Hall reprimanded by MWC
406 - Max Hall issues apology
393 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
361 - Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?
287 - Utes won't respond to Hall
278 - BYU says Hall incident resolved
247 - Letters: Liberal because LDS
222 - 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
188 - Aggies shoot past Cougars
175 - Hate not limited to 1 in-state rivalry
165
Harvey Unga's future seems to be a hot talking point among fans so let's...
The publicity over Max Hall's "hate" rant against Utah, last weekend,...
Some Ute fans might be wringing their hands over still another loss,...
What amazes me is that people just shrug off the fact that Hall's family had...
Mitt has no chance. Mitt you daddy can't help you like he got you your job....
I liked what someone said about being a fan- Why can't we just cheer on our...
The Mr. Football Award goes to the best player in the state for THAT YEAR....
1)I like the old green uniforms WAY better than the powder girl blue ones of...
A cat cam? Yes, let's attach a camera to one of the most boring pets around...
As a former employer I can tell you that gov. seems to be trying to put you...
Glad I woke up early and went to the gym, otherwise I would have been stuck...
There are no secrets on tour. Miller knew what Tiger was like back when he...
Reagan changed the way unemployment is counted. Only people collecting...



